The Orland Park Village Board voted to temporarily halt fiber‑optic construction permits after recent underground utility strikes that village staff said disrupted service to roughly 300 homes for about seven hours.

Village staff outlined the incident and a package of rules the board endorsed. "What we are requesting is to put a halt on any work, any fiber optic construction until we can get an expanded and new rules in place so that we can minimize this type of impact for residents in the future," said George, a village staff speaker. Staff said a subcontractor working for an Internet provider struck one line in two places in the Catalina subdivision on the 8th, affecting service to approximately 300 homes for about seven hours.

Resident Mary described household impacts: "The power went out at about 11:00 in the morning and didn't come back on till about 07:30 at night. It was terrible… I do have a disabled husband at home who was absolutely freezing," she said. Staff acknowledged the company did not provide direct resident notification in that incident and said notification requirements will be reinforced in new rules.

Under the resolution, staff will halt permits for new fiber work until outstanding issues — unrepaired property damage, strikes to existing utilities, open holes or unrestored sidewalks — are addressed. Staff told the board the draft rules will include limits on how many active construction zones can operate at once, a requirement that subcontractors carry clear vehicle and crew identification, mandatory proof of direct resident notification, increased fines for disruptions to utilities, and a stop‑work order authority to be exercised by public works when violations occur. Staff said the strengthened penalties and enforcement procedures will be presented to the board at the first meeting in February.

Trustee Leaflet moved to adopt the resolution and to authorize village staff and the village attorney to draft the ordinance; the motion was seconded and passed on roll call with the board members recorded as voting Aye.

The resolution does not itself change the municipal code; it imposes a temporary stop to new permits while staff and counsel draft formal ordinance language and enforcement procedures for board consideration.